Cactus Shadows cafeteria expansion set to begin

Millions of dollars in bond money have been tied up in the Cave Creek Unified School District for years. Now, the district is moving toward a decision on what to do with it.

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2000

The Republic

2000

Voters approve a $41 million bond to buy buses and construct two elementary schools, a second middle school and a second high school.

2005-07

The Republic

2005-07

Cave Creek built Horseshoe Trails Elementary School and Sonoran Trails Middle School (left).

2007

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2007

At various times, the district has proposed building a large second high school, a small specialty high school and ninth-grade academy. In November, voters reject a bond to build a large high school campus. About $13 million of the 2000 bond money is left over.

2010

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2010

The Legislature passes a law allowing districts to spend unused construction bond money on building renovations.

2011

The Republic

Spring 2011

The district prepares to spend the leftover money on several repair and renovation projects, including the expansion of the cafeteria at Cactus Shadows High School. Days before construction is set to begin, the Goldwater Institute files a lawsuit, saying that the law is unconstitutional because it allows districts to spend money on something different from what voters approved.

2012

The Republic

2012

The district is allowed to spend a portion of the $13 million and uses it to install a new drainage system and parking lot at Cactus Shadows.

2013

The Republic

2013

The state Supreme Court declines to take the case, leaving intact the lower-court rulings that the law allowing the money to be spent is unconstitutional. Cave Creek's money remains in limbo.

2014

The Republic

Spring 2014

Cave Creek forms a committee to decide whether ask voters if they approve of spending the $10 million in leftover bond money on repairs and renovations to the school campuses, the Fine Arts Center and the football stadium. In March, the district sells the long-closed Cave Creek Elementary School for $914,000, and in April, the governing board votes to spend the money on expanding the cafeteria.

2014

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June 2014

The governing board votes to put the leftover $10.2 million in bond money on the ballot in the fall, and also to ask voters for an additional $30 million bond for renovations and maintenance.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May on the expansion of the cafeteria at Cactus Shadows High School.

The Cave Creek Unified School District governing board approved the $1.3 million project April 22.

The work, tentatively set to begin Saturday, May 10, should be completed by the start of school in August, according to Dennis Roehler, facilities manager for the district. He said the construction timeline will be set this week.

The cafeteria expansion has been discussed for years. Work on the 400-seat room was ready to begin in 2011, using the remainder of money from the 2000 construction bond approved by voters, when a lawsuit derailed the construction.

In 2013, the Arizona Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling that money approved by voters for one purpose — new construction, in Cave Creek's case — could not be spent on something else, such as renovation.

Last month, the district completed the sale of the old Cave Creek Elementary School, clearing $914,000, which will be spent on the cafeteria renovation, along with money from the capital account.

The vote was 3-2. Board President David Schaefer and members Stephanie Reese and Karen Tuffs voted for it, while Janet Busbee and Susan Clancy were opposed.

Busbee cited the district's list of repair projects, mostly painting, roof replacements and air-conditioning, which totals $49 million, and said the money would be better spent on that.

Superintendent Debbi Burdick said the sale of the school presented the district with a lump sum, which must be spent on capital projects and cannot be put into the operating budget, which pays for teachers and classroom programs.